Chapter 12: Saturated Hydrocarbons (Alkanes)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key definitions, classifications, structural formulas, isomerism, and properties of saturated hydrocarbons.

Organic chemistry

The study of hydrocarbons and their various derivatives.

Inorganic chemistry

The study of all substances other than hydrocarbons and their derivatives.

Hydrocarbon

A compound composed exclusively of hydrogen and carbon atoms.

Aliphatic hydrocarbon

A hydrocarbon with carbon atoms arranged in straight chains, branched chains, or cyclically non-aromatic rings.

Aromatic hydrocarbon

A hydrocarbon containing a cyclically conjugated ring system that resembles benzene.

Saturated hydrocarbon

A hydrocarbon in which all carbon-carbon bonds are single covalent bonds.

Unsaturated hydrocarbon

A hydrocarbon containing one or more carbon-carbon double or triple bonds.

Hydrocarbon derivative

An organic compound containing carbon, hydrogen, and at least one other element.

Alkane

A saturated hydrocarbon with an acyclic carbon chain, possessing the general molecular formula $C_n H_{2n+2}$.

Cycloalkane

A saturated cyclic hydrocarbon (alicyclic compound) in which carbon atoms form a ring, possessing the general molecular formula $C_n H_{2n}$.

Structural formula

A chemical formula that shows the explicit or implicit arrangement of atoms and chemical bonds within a molecule.

Skeletal structural formula

A structural formula showing the arrangement of all bonded carbon atoms without explicitly showing the attached hydrogen atoms.

Line-Angle structural formula

A structural representation in which lines represent carbon-carbon bonds, and carbon atoms are implied at line endpoints and intersections.

Primary carbon atom ($1^\circ$)

A carbon atom directly bonded to only one other carbon atom.

Secondary carbon atom ($2^\circ$)

A carbon atom directly bonded to two other carbon atoms.

Tertiary carbon atom ($3^\circ$)

A carbon atom directly bonded to three other carbon atoms.

Quaternary carbon atom ($4^\circ$)

A carbon atom directly bonded to four other carbon atoms.

Constitutional isomers

Compounds sharing the same molecular formula but differing in structural arrangement and atom connectivity (also called structural isomers).

Stereoisomers

Compounds with identical molecular and structural formulas that differ only in the three-dimensional spatial orientation of their atoms.

Conformational isomers

Specific 3D spatial arrangements of atoms that result from rotation around carbon-carbon single bonds without bond cleavage.

Geometric isomers

Stereoisomers with restricted bond rotation (such as cis-trans isomers in cycloalkanes) that result in fixed spatial orientations of substituents.

Cis- isomer

A geometric isomer in which substituents are positioned on the same side of a ring or rigid plane.

Trans- isomer

A geometric isomer in which substituents are positioned across from each other on a ring or rigid plane.

Combustion

A vigorous exothermic reaction of a substance with oxygen accompanied by the release of heat and light.